Job Description

Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology:

Chair of Embedded Systems

In order to fill a

fixed-term position in full-time (39.83 hours/week = 100%) 01.01.2026

, we are looking for one

Postdoctoral researcher (m/f/x)

===================================

We are an international team engaged in teaching and research on approximate computing, reconfigurable accelerators for machine learning applications, design automation for emerging technologies, reliability, and fault tolerance of (multi-) processor and embedded systems. In particular, we investigate the dynamic reconfiguration of systems for energy efficiency. REC² (Responsible Electronics in the Climate Change Era) is a Cluster of Excellence funded under Germany’s Excellence Strategy and led by TU Dresden. It brings together researchers from computer science, electrical engineering, materials science, and physics to lay the foundations for the sustainable microelectronics of the future. The cluster focuses on developing new material platforms, device concepts, and integrated systems that push the boundaries of energy efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in microelectronics. These efforts thereby address the challenges posed by the growing demand for responsible computing technologies in the climate change era.


The position in REC² aims to support the developments of the subproject responsible networked systems within the Excellence Cluster. The focus lies in the holistic optimization of future networked systems across multiple abstraction layers, spanning areas from efficient electric devices and reconfigurable architectures to sustainable communication and computing applications. Specifically, RUB will support these efforts by exploring novel cross-layer system design concepts and by conducting sustainability assessment to balance system performance with environmental impact. Therefore, innovative HW/SW codesign methodologies and algorithms are required to develop efficient, high-performance, and sustainable networked systems of the future that meet the goals of the cluster.

Scope:

full-time

Duration:

fixed-term, 4 years

Start:

01.01.2026

Apply by:

2025-10-06

Your tasks:

---------------


In the context of responsible networked systems, review the current literature on novel devices, including accelerators, reconfigurable architectures, and emerging non-volatile memory, for efficient deployment of current and future signal processing and communication algorithms.

Collaborate with project partners to collect requirements for signal processing workloads and communication algorithms in responsible networked systems, and develop representative models based on these requirements.

Design novel and efficient networked computing architectures (e.g. networks of SoCs with embedded non-volatile in-memory processing) based on the above models.

Propose joint HW/SW optimization strategies, leveraging HW/SW codesign principles, approximate computing, and reconfigurability.

Evaluate the designed systems using representative benchmarks with metrics that directly assess sustainability, such as power, performance, chip area, and device lifetime.

Publish the results in international conferences and journals.

Take ownership of the research, work independently and responsibly on the development of novel concepts and solutions, while actively collaborating with project partners.

Your profile:

-----------------


PhD degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or related field

Publications in high-impact EDA conferences and journals, or in related fields

Willingness and ability to mentor and supervise students or PhD researchers

Experience in contributing to grant proposals desirable

At the request of the applicant (m/f/d), participation in teaching is possible

Broad, interdisciplinary skillset, including a solid understanding of the entire computing stack, from programming and compilation to computer architecture and VLSI, to be able to innovate in HW/SW codesign methods across abstraction layers

Strong background in low-power system design for modern accelerator architectures and SoCs

Experience with common signal processing and communication algorithms, including efficient inference and federated training of machine learning models

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in large collaborative research environments

Ability to work with a high degree of independence and take responsibility for advancing complex research topics in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.

Fluency in English (written and oral), knowledge of German would be a plus.

We offer:

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Challenging and varied tasks with a high level of independence A qualified on-boarding and induction process Collaboration in a committed and appreciative team Extensive training and professional development opportunities Employment at one of the largest universities in Germany within the University Alliance Ruhr
A varied and challenging research task, embedded in a friendly, inclusive and supportive team of the Cluster’s Principal Investigators. We maintain an open and cooperative work attitude with maximum personal responsibility, mutual support with a solution-oriented approach, and flexible working hours where possible. As a postdoctoral researcher in the Excellence Cluster, you will be expected to collaborate interdisciplinarily with researchers, including occasional business travel. You will join a team of enthusiastic researchers who pursue creatively their individual research agenda.

Further information:

------------------------


The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L). If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E14 TV-L.


Further information can be found at https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/ (in German).


The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.



If the position is funded by third-party funds the employee has no teaching obligation.


Please submit your comprehensive application (in English only) including the following: motivation letter, CV, copy of degree certificate, transcript of grades (i.e. the official list of coursework including your grades) and proof of English language skills. This position can be filled on a full-time or part-time basis.



German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZFA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF).

https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sbgk/index.html.en

The Staff Council has the right to participate in all selection interviews. At the request of a candidate (m/f/x), it will ensure its participation in the entire procedure. Please contact

wpr@rub.de

.

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create knowledge networks within and beyond the university is Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s declared aim.

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.

Contact persons for further information:

--------------------------------------------

Prof. Dr. Akash Kumar , Tel.: +49 234 32 15677





Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.


We look forward to receiving your application via our

online application portal by 2025-10-06

. Please make sure to mention the reference number ANR 4993.

Online application